Most apps think login is simple: Generate a JWT and you’re done.
That’s where things go wrong. JWT tokens are meant to be short-lived (2–4 hours for security reasons)
So if you rely only on JWT:
→ Users keep getting logged out
→ Friction increases
→ Drop-offs happen
Now look at how Gmail handles it.They use a refresh token strategy:
- JWT expires in a few hours
- Refresh token lives much longer (20–30 days)
- When the user comes back, a new JWT is silently generated
User doesn’t even notice anything.That’s why you stay logged in for days.
Now , most developer skip this layer entirely for low project budget reasons. And then non-tech founder wonder why out product failed to give good user experience.
Authentication isn’t just about security. It’s about user experience.
What is your take on this ?
